Running your own business and having holidays …. I used to think the two were irreconcilable but I’ve seen the light, and this year, my primary resolution is to take more holidays!
It sounds like a decadent resolution, but I think having holidays is both a necessity and makes good business sense. I don’t mean setting off for sun, sea and sand several times a year. All I want is to plan some proper “time out” for us as a family throughout the year – even if it’s just 3 or 4 days at time where we either take ourselves off somewhere or simply close the door to the office, switch off our mobiles and have a few days of uninterrupted time and fun together.
When I first started WorkingMums, even before launch, I wondered if I’d ever be able to have a holiday again. Even just a couple of days totally switching off seemed impossible. I could manage working from home, and although it took a while and some self-discipline, I have achieved what we (my husband, children and I) feel is a good work/life balance. But I found going away and being away from my office and easy access to my computer and business phone line more stressful than relaxing. I worried about missing important calls, about backlogs, about continuity. Of course I could access everything I needed to access remotely, but somehow that wasn’t the same.
But holidays are important. Not just for a change of environment (which is particularly needed when your business is home-based), but also for quality family time. Having a holiday also gives you time out to re-charge and re-assess. In my experience, when you have your own business, you never really stop thinking about it, but when you’re on holiday, instead of being immersed in day to day activities and issues, you have more thinking time. Proper, clear, headspace - which is invaluable.
Our big break in terms of holiday came in October last year when we went to America for a fortnight. Our first “extended” holiday in over a year, and a big step with a fledgling business! With Julie (who joined WorkingMums in July 2006) holding fort, I knew WorkingMums was in safe hands. Yes, I logged on intermittently, and was in phone contact with Julie, but having Julie on board meant that I could relax more and somehow a couple of e-mails and a telephone call seem much more relaxing when you know that soon you’re going to be on a beach or in a pool and enjoying 80 degrees of heat and sunshine!
I’m sure my attitude to taking time out has also changed because 18 months down the line, WorkingMums is more established, and I’ve got the benefit of experience. For anyone else who’s been having similar dilemmas here’s what I’ve learnt over the past year:
- Take advantage of seasonal quieter times for your business – for example, for businesses like WorkingMums (unlike retail businesses), periods such as Christmas and Easter are much quieter because of Bank and school holidays.
- If you’re on holiday and you need to work, try and be disciplined and consistent about where and when you work. For example, take your phone / laptop to a different room while the children are napping / resting. That way, you can have some quiet time to work that doesn’t infringe on family time.
- Work smarter: think about what work is REALLY essential? What can wait? What can be delegated?
- Use your holiday time to enjoy yourself, look after yourself, relax (as much as your children allow!) and refresh. You probably won’t stop thinking about work, but having clearer headspace does wonders for creativity, and returning to your desk revitalised and clear headed definitely impacts positively on productivity!
del.icio.us
|
Digg
|
Newsvine
|
Reddit
